Fury and helplessness welled up inside Theodore, like a volcano ready to erupt. He despised himself for not finding Ariana sooner, for not preventing this storm.

After a heavy silence, Theodore's voice was a dull murmur of resignation.

"When can we schedule the termination procedure?"

Ariana found herself swimming back to awareness, uncertain of how much time had passed. As the haze of unconsciousness lifted, she was enveloped in a soft peace she hadn't felt in ages. The emotional turmoil that had been her constant companion was gone.

Bits and pieces of a memory bubbled up - Theodore rushing to her side just before the world went black. She turned to look for him, but he was asleep, slumped next to her bed, weariness etched into his expression. He was out cold, like an adorable, defenseless large dog sleeping beside her.